LettersOpinion
DA chairperson for Amajuba responds to questions regarding Paradise roads
Submitted by Dr Imran Keeka First, know that Cllr De Jager is an extremely hard working Councillor. This we even hear from our political opponents and is certainly a feather in her cap and ours. You may not know, but DA Councillors are subject to performance assessments on a regular basis. Much like a …
Submitted by Dr Imran Keeka
First, know that Cllr De Jager is an extremely hard working Councillor. This we even hear from our political opponents and is certainly a feather in her cap and ours.
You may not know, but DA Councillors are subject to performance assessments on a regular basis. Much like a school report. And you know that if you’re not doing well, that you need to do better. Other parties lack such accountability mechanisms and you therefore see their under performance.
For example, as far as we are informed, there is a Councillor in town who, the residents of her ward threatened to burn her house down for not doing her job. Instead of dealing decisively with the matter of her allegedly not delivering or working as she should, she has body guards to protect her who she used to try and intimidate us when we attempted to assist residents in her ward.
You will know that we recently fired two councillors in eThekwini as well as others in many parts of the country for various issues ranging from discipline to non performance. We do not reward shirkers with perks such as body guards and benefits.
The community of Newcastle will recall that Councillors in this municipality also, were not returned to council based on performance and other issues.
So we are confident in the abilities and performance of our public representatives and hold each one accountable as I am too. It is a responsibility we take very seriously as the party’s leadership.
Perhaps what we need to do more off is to bring to the attention of the citizens of Newcastle all that we do through the medium of your publication and online means that you provide as well as other publications.
That there is tardiness on the side of municipal officials can’t be blamed on anything but the lack of political will to get things done. The buck stops there. And there is certainly no blame on those councillors who actually look for and actively take complaints and make every attempt to resolve issues.
Who are also the vanguards of this democracy and champions of peoples rights. Even blaming the opposition who do not govern this town for delays and lack of service delivery. Worse still, you will see and find that when anything comes from opposition parties it has been delayed, held in abeyance or even stonewalled! Dirty political tactics that do not benefit the resident. Those in whose hands are the reigns will throw tantrums and give all sorts of reasons to deny this and perhaps shift blame. Far fetched you think? Wait and see.
Now don’t get me wrong, I did not say at any point that the town is not improving at all, we see the make-up to cover up ailing infrastructure and we see housing projects to house the disadvantaged and we see roads being built.
What I am saying is that there is this uncomfortable lethargy which some may even rightfully call the inertia of service delivery with serious issues in so many places. By this I mean that we see so many places without proper roads, without schools, without playgrounds, without clinics, without electricity, without toilets, without sanitation! And the removal of services like with the Provincial hospital.
One wonders, on occasion, if we have to always wait for elections to see service delivery. A well marinated politician of the governing party in town once said to me: “Elections are good for service delivery”. Says a lot doesn’t it?
It is not a complicated problem in Paradise where increased potholes due to recent high rainfalls or for the same reason the long grass in certain parts that worries me to the point of sleeplessness, Critical issues such as people that have NO water to drink that cause and MUST cause the heebie-jeebies.
Potholes, like on the Memel road, we know damage cars and cause other problems. Long grass has it’s own hazards especially around so many schools that we have in Paradise and ward 4 in general. We also know that between 70% and some reports suggest 90% of PURIFIED water is lost before it reaches people and there are so many other inhumane conditions that people live in that should keep councillors restless! The failure to deliver lies at the door of the political leadership of the town.
And we shall continue to provide opposition to the point that this inertia lifts. Easy it is not. Excuses are not only extravagant but superfluous. Political gate-keeping priorities take precedence over vitally important service delivery issues. And the list continues.
Coming back to potholes: in our experience it can take anywhere between 48 hours to even six weeks to get fixed. Some even longer. Storm water drain covers that people can fall into was raised with the department in November last year in various places. A sure hazard for children and pedestrians especially those who walk in the dark. They remain broken and more seem to be so since then. Street lights: Finally getting there.
Then there is the sore river issue. Some intervention: Yes. Residents happy: Clearly not. At some point even around 4 million litres of raw sewage flowed over nine days until action was eventually taken.
Jenkyn street: Some say as good as driving on a gravel road: bumpy or has natural speed humps caused by the roots of trees and some residents allege that the driving school trucks are at fault. This particular issue and others were vociferously raised at a public meeting in the town hall, chaired and facilitated by Cllr De Jager, where even the Mayor who lives not far from there acknowledged that it is indeed a problem.
Having publicly acknowledged the problems and not attending to them says much about the usual style of this government nationally. I am looking forward to seeing if anything will be done this year. These are particular to this area but most concerns broadly affect all areas of Newcastle west and is far, far worse in Newcastle east.
The budget is tight no doubt. There isn’t this limitless fountain of cash. But how and when it is spent is another issue. Councillors are told so often, and they return to residents with that excuse: “there’s no money. Maybe next year” Oh, the vitriolic chanting that will follow in response to this too is something predictably anticipated. Contributions that we make, much of which is considered, and much that we see in the interest of the taxpayer – regardless of colour, rich or poor, young and old is ignored.
When it comes to creating a conducive environment for economic growth we see growth in retail. Loss of jobs in manufacturing and proud government expenditure on more government grant recipients than ever before.
Creating a greater dependency on the state. How can you be proud that more people are receiving more grants. It means people are becoming poorer. The rich-poor gap is widening and you are proud of this? It Is nothing short of short sightedness and a slap in the face of a failing government nationally that certainly impacts on your pocket right here at home.
Much is said and not said. Change is possible and there is hope. The tipping point is now. Or else, never. Change lies at the ballot box!
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